National Conference on

Universal Health Coverage in India:

Advancing the Agenda and Addressing the Challenges

April 11-12, 2012

Trade and Health

Dr. Mira Shiva MD

Initiative for Health and Equity in Society

All India Drug Action Network

Jan Swasthya Abhiyan

A-60 Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016

Email: mirashiva@gmail.com

M: 91-9810582028

Trade and Health

GATT - 8th Uruguay Round

TRIPS

WTO

IPR – One of the most Unjust International Trade Regime Medicines Traditional Medicine and Traditional Knowledge

TRIPS and Pharmaceuticals

Doha declaration on TRIPS & PUBLIC HEALTH 2001

CIPIH Commission on IPR Innovation & Public Health 2006

WHO CEWG Report 2012

Use of the TRIPS flexibilities (v.v.few)

Compulsary License

Parallel Import

High Prices

Poor Access

TRIPS plus Agendas through FTAs

Traditional Medicines and Traditional Knowledge

Budget for TSM 3 % of Health Budget

TKDL Traditional Knowledge Digital Library documentation of Traditional Medicine

Turmeric, Neem , Basmati , Melon ,Mola Gattu

Phyllanthus Niruri, Karela , Jamun

Patenting of genes, Traits

Continued Granting of Patents by USPTO for existing Traditional Knowledge

Trade in Food

Lifting of Quantitative Restrictions

Import Liberalization. Food importation at higher prices than given to farmers

Continued subsidies to the farmers in west .

Indian farmers unable to compete

Indo EU and other FTAs pressure for opening Dairy, Poultry etc.Processed Food

Push for Seed Replacement with patented seeds (pushing out conventional seeds)

90% of cotton in cotton growing areas is Bt Cotton , licensing arrangement with the seed companies

Conventional Seeds are not available

Seed costs spiral Royalty payments

Seeds –IPR -

SEED REPLACEMENT of traditional seeds , with patented seeds of seed

Corporations Control on seed , Replacing Conventional Promotion of Patented seeds Wiping out of conventional seeds Making seed saving, sharing, selling, illegal Agreements signed by farmers buying seeds

Media for Marketing Insecticide use has increased new bugs Mealy bugs .

Promotion with

250,000 farmers suicides majority in cotton belt

Using International and National Regulatory frameworks to push for corporate control on Seeds and thereby meeting Food Security

Seed Act – making unregistered seeds illegal (70% Indian Agriculture related with small farmers)

Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Act (under Department of Biotechnology mandated to promote Biotechnology)

Indo US Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture on the Board are Monsanto, Walmart ,

MOUs with agriculture Universities promotion of GM , IPM initiatives stopped , or unfunded .

Silence from Public Health Community . Epigenetics , Biosafety concerns blindspotted Genetic Contamination Genetic Pollution Percy Schmiezer, Canadian farmer sued for IPR

violation on finding field contaminated with Round up Ready Conolla , accused of stealing Monsanto’s patented seeds

Till free Agriculture selling Herbicide Round Up

Genetic Contamination is a Reality Entire collection of

seeds saved for over 50 years farming taken

Sued for $50,000 for violation of IPR .

Percy was victim of unwanted GM contamination of his non GM Canolla crop

RoundUp is Herbicide

Round up Ready is canolla with Herbicide resistant gene .

When Herbicide is sprayed , it kills all other plant s

TILL FREE AGRICULTURE

• Royalty paid for Bt Cotton – Rs. 1000 crore per year

Implications in terms of cost of seeds with GM Soya, GM Corn, GM Papaya, GM Cauliflower, GM Ladies fingers, GM rice

Public Health Implications

- 250,000 farmer’s suicides

- Bio safety concerns

- Economic Concerns

- Wiping out of Traditional Livelihood concerns

- Ecological Concerns about loss of Biodiversity ,

BIOSAFETY CONCERNS

Biosafety studies not done because GM crop equated with Biologically Natural crops in US

Bt Brinjal 3 genes inserted Bt gene from Bacillus Thurengenisis

Cauliflour Mosaic virus gene‘

Antibiotic Resistant marker gene

Inadequate Biosafety testing

Only 90 days Long term impact ofGM food i Intergenerational impact assessmnt not done

Policy & Regulatory frameworks to increase Control & Trade of Patented seeds

Seed Act to make unregistered farmers seeds illegal

Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Act contents being challenged by civil society engaged in Right to Food , Doctors for Food & Biosafety .

FoodSafety Standards Authority formulated by Food Processing Industry Ministry . Repealing of Infant Milk Substitutes Act was stalled because of Baby Food campaigners

Food Security Nutritional Security needed Speculation on Food recognized as one of the

main reasons for spiraling food prices –U.N Special Rapporteur on Food .

Agreement on Agriculture AoA part of WTO loaded against developing countries . Korean farmers suicide in Cancun , protests by peasants , farmers & womens organizations to not to threaten Nutritional , livelihood security of the citizens majority of whom are linked to Agriculture.

Recognize the existing Agrarian crisis & the Malnutrition crisis

Food & Nutrition Security Public Health Priority This requires

Diverse Food Production , procurement, storage , equitible Distribution , consumption

Based on nutrition needs , of affordable & safe food .